Handbag



L. E. MEADOW Nov. 6, 1951 HANDBAG Filed March 5, 1951 INVENTOR.

Leon E. Meadow Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG 7 Leon E. Meadow, New York, N. Y.

Application March 3, 1951, Serial No. 213,764

Claims. (01. 150-28) The present invention relates to a ladys handbag and is generally directed to the provision of a ladys handbag which is of new, highly novel and attractive construction and appearance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ladys handbag in which a rigid frame is provided on the exterior with the pocket or bag portion disposed on the interior of the frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ladys handbag of the character described in which theframe is provided with a closure which is likewise on the exterior of the bag and which is operated by the handles of the bag.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ladys handbag of the character described which is capacious and which, besides being highly attractive in appearance, is also easy and convenient to open and to close and comfortable to carry;

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a ladys handbag of the character described which is economical to produce and is sturdy and durable.

The foregoing and other advantages and superiorities of the lady's handbag of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the prin ciples and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the lady's handbag of the present invention shown in open position, and partly cut away to show structural details;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the ladys handbag shown in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the lady's hand bag shown in partly open position; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the handbag frame.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawing, the ladys handbag of the present invention comprises an outer frame consisting of an open-work or cage-like receptacle portion, generally designated as H), which may be of substantially any desired shape, such as the bucket shape shown, and is formed of relatively thin pieces of material, such as the wire illustrated, or thin narrow metal or plastic slats. The receptacle frame section II] may comprise the annularly disposed, upright, evenly spaced wires,

H, which may be connected to one another by annular ribs at their tops and bottoms, as at I2 and I3, soldered or otherwise secured, preferably on the exterior faces of the wires II, and additional intermediate ribs, such as 14.

The bottom, l5, of the frame section I0 may also be of open-Work, if desired, formed of horizontal, spaced wires or the like, I1, which may be integrally continuous with the wires II.

The handbag frame also includes an openwork closure formed by a plurality of approximately U-shaped closure elements, 20, of wire or similar material, all preferably of the same size, which are secured by the ends of their legs, 2|, as by loops, 22, formed thereon to the upper annular rib l2 of the receptacle frame section II). The closure elements 2|] are arranged in overlapping position, each element having one leg 2| overlying the contiguous le'g 2| of an adjacent element at one side and underlying the contiguous leg 2| of an adjacent element 20 at the other side, so that when any one of the elements 20 is moved inwardly or outwardly it will actuate, serially, similar movement of all of the other closure elements.

The frame of the handbag of the present invention is further provided with a pair of handles that may also serve for actuating the closure elements of the frame. Such handles may each comprise an approximately U-shaped member, generally designated as 25, having a pair of leg portions, 26, and a web portion, 21, with the section of the U member immediately adjacent the web portion being preferably widened and offset outwardly from the leg portions, as at 28, the web 21 serving as a handle grip.

Each of the handles 25 is secured to the upper rib l2 of the receptacle frame section I 0, as by loops, 29, formed on the ends of their legs 26 which fit about such rib. One of the legs 26 of each of the handle members 25 is disposed above or outwardly of the closure elements 20 and the other being disposed below or inwardly thereof, so that each of the legs 26 of each handle 25 may serve to actuate such elements 20 in one direction, either towards opening or closing, so that when the two handles are moved apart the closure elements 20 are moved into opening position and when the two handles 25 are pushed together the closure elements 2|] are moved into closing position.

The handbag of the present invention is also provided with a bag portion, generally designated as 30, which may, if desired, be seamlessly formed of a square of textile or textile substitute fabric, 3|, preferably of ornamental design which will be decoratively visible through the openwork frame. The fabric square 3| may be in- It will be readily apparent that the corners 32 of the fabric square 3! will fold over the pocket or bag formed by the main body pur tion of such square to serve as a closure orwcovrerv therefor and as protection for its contents; it

being, obviously, quite easy to=move-=suchacorners:

in and out of covering position.

This completes the description of the handbag of the.,present invention. It will be readily apparent" that such handbag is highly'effective for its purpose as a receptaclefor thearticl'es gen .erally, carriedby alady in-a handbag; that it is light of weight; thatjit is o'f strongiandsturdy constructiongthat it is easy andconvenient;to use and. that it is of" simple" construction, formed of relatively low pricedfimaterial'jby relatively simple and;economical processes and is therefore economical to produce;

It will. be ;further apparent variations and modifications may be" made inithe handbag of the present .invention particularly *as *to'the -shapeandform of'its several'framesec- 'tionsandithe form and.material;of the elements from which .such "frame sections are formed, which variations and modifications'may he;made by anyoneskilled in the art inaccordance with the principles of'the invention hereinabove set forth and withoutthe use of. any inventive in.- genuity. ,I desire, therefore, tobe protected for any and all such variations .and modifications thatlmay, belmad'e within the spirit of the present i'nventionandl the scope of the claims hereto appended.

1., Ailady 's handbag. comprising. an open-work receptacle frame. section 'havingside walls formed .of .a ,plurality .of rigid, .relatively. narrow, spaced upright. elementslsecured' tofhorizont'al ribs. includinga zribfatithe upper, end .ofsaid. elements, closure .elemehtseach comprising asubthat numerous v spaced legv portionspivotally secured tolsaid .upper. rib by loopsformedat. the endsof the leg portionsvthereof, one of. said .leg portions over.- lying said closureelementsand one of said leg portions underlying said closureelementswhere- .by movement of thehandle iniany'direction .will .actuate saidclosure elements for movement in a'similar direction. I

2..A ladyshandbag comprising, the combination. .with. an open-work receptaclev frame .for simultaneous movement upon i the movement of any. of them, of handle meanscomprisinga pair of handle elements, each of approximately U-sha-pe and-having spaced leg portions, each pivotally secured by its end to said upper rib with one of said leg portions overlying said closure elements and the other of said leg portions underlying said closure elements, whereby movement of a handle in any direction will actuate said closure elements for movement in a similar direction.

13i'The handbag of claim, 2' wherein each of said handle elements has its free end portion outwardly offset to form a grip section which will extend in approximately upright direction when its inner end portion is in approximately .horizontallhandbag closing position.

4; A la'dys handbag comprising, in combi- -nation, an:openwork receptacle frame section includinga bottom, rigid lattice work side walls, a horizontal rib at theupper edge of the side wallsand closure elementspivotally secured on s'aidtr'ib and, arranged-"to;--interengage for simultaneous movement upon movement of any of them andhandle means comprising apair of handle elements,. each ofapproximately- U -shape and having spacedleg portions'each pivotally securedjby its endto saidupper'rib; with oneof said; leg portions overlying said closure elements 'an'dfltheother off said'leg portions underlying said closure, elements, whereby movement of:a handle in any, direction will actuate said closureelements for. movement. in, a .similaridirection. and apouch within. said frame section, saidpouch comprising a substantially rectangulartextile fabric section disposed. in. cupped arrangement, within-said frame: section and-secured to said horizontal rib along points arranged approximately icircularly over the central portionfthereof, whereby the marginal portions ofsaidfabric, section'are detached from said frame sectionand free 'to form a-.co.ver.for the pouch formedfthereby.

. ,5 A-.ladys handbag rcornprising, in combination, an openvwork, receptacle frame section, open at its top and havinga bottom,-rigidlattice workside -.walls, a. horizontal rib. at the upper edgeof. the side walls andclosure element's pivotallyrsecuredon saidzrib andtarrangedq to interengage-forsimultaneous.movement upon movement of any of -them,.andihandle. means secured .torsa-id frame-section. adj acent (the opening there- .of:, andza pouch within said- .frame section, said pouchzcomprisingi 'a flat i textile fabric section .of greater adiIllBIiSiOl'lS than. the opening of. said frame section; disposed in cupped arrangement withini said'rframe section and secured to said horizontal rib along points arranged circularly over the central portion thereof-on a-.circumference-;.-greater than thB'OIJEIliHg-Of said frame section, =.whereby .thecentral portion .ofsaid fabricisectionzforms; a receptacle-portion and the marginal portions thereof are detached'from-said framearsectiomand free to forma coveriforthe pouch formed from the said-:fabrio-section;

- 1' LEON-E. MEADOW;

' REFERENCESj' CITED .The following references are of record in the file. oilthis, patent UNITE'D STATES PATENTS 'Number V 7 Name Date "7711, 110. Means Oct..14, 1902 I ,l .72,7.9.2 Boyle Dec. 3, 1907 ;2,',23,0;3.82' Lutzke Feb. *4, 1941 '"Z,24, 2',1;11 .Carsley M'ay 13; 1'941 234259.98. .Eggl June 8; 1948 g2 ;3 ;52f Snider. Dec, 12,1950 

